"I'm sorry" Draco spoke softly as Snape cuddled him. "It's okay, I forgive you. It's alright to make mistakes and learn from them. You have to use kinder words, Draco" Snape explained to Draco why he was in trouble. "I know" Draco sighed, knowing Snape was right and that he shouldn't have spoken to him with such uncharacteristic anger. "And I know that you know, so we can move on. I'm not angry anymore" Snape said, trying to get Draco to understand that there was no need to be afraid. "Uh-hu" Draco nodded, internally fearful that Snape was going to secretly store his anger and that it would turn into deep rooted resentment.
"Now, let's get back home and leave Professor Lupin to his evening" Snape said as he stood himself up. For a moment Draco had forgotten that he was in Lupin's office and that his professor was sat patiently across the room. Draco raised his eyes to look at Lupin and flashed him an awkward smile. "See you tomorrow, Draco" Lupin said in an attempt to ease the tension that had fallen over the room that evening. "Goodnight" Snape said in Lupin's direction as he opened the office door, gesturing for Draco to head out.
Both Snape and Draco ambled back to Snape's quarters together. The castle was dark, with only the ghosts roaming the corridors. This left Draco feeling vulnerable and almost scared. The dark was one of a long list of things that teased with the fear imbedded in Draco's mind. He held his breath as he tried to walk more briskly, feeling the soaking wet nappy between his legs with every step. "You're fine, Draco" Snape said as he noticed the nervousness of the boy. He reached his left hand out confidently and tightly held onto Draco's right. "You're safe" Snape spoke warmly. Those two words felt more magical than any spell could to Draco. He had never been told that at home, so instinctively always felt uncertain within himself. "I'm safe" Draco whispered to himself, the uneasiness seemingly evaporating.
Once back at Snape's quarters Snape turned to look at Draco. Now in the candle light of the living room Snape could see more clearly the tear stained face of Draco. "Let me get a wipe for your face" Snape said, heading to the bathroom to pick up not only the wipes but a dry nappy too. "Come here" Snape said, placing the wipe softly on Draco's cheek.
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After carefully wiping both cheeks and Draco's nose, Snape turned his attention to the very clearly soaking nappy between Draco's legs. "Can I change your nappy?" Snape asked, always looking for consent to perform such an intimate act. Draco nodded, overcome with embarrassment. "Come on then" Snape smiled, gesturing for Draco to come and lie himself down on the sofa that sat in the middle of the living room. Draco did as he was instructed and lay himself down, his eyes now tightly closed and his mind trying to take him somewhere else. "I'm safe" Draco repeated to himself in the same whispered tone as before. Those words were going to be something that Draco held close to his heart for the rest of his life, he already knew that.
Snape was beginning to get the hang of the whole nappy changing thing, and was able to have Draco taped into a dry nappy within 5 minutes. "All done" Snape said, leaving Draco without any trousers on as he was about to be going to bed anyway. The two then exchanged a few pleasantries before heading in opposite directions to their rooms.
